Woman Who Intentionally Crashed Car Found Guilty Of Manslaughter

DETROIT (WWJ/AP) – A 28-year-old Westland woman who intentionally crashed her car into another vehicle, causing the death of the other driver, has been convicted of manslaughter.

Ponya Lee was also found guilty of reckless driving causing death and malicious destruction of property in the crash that killed Patricia Nwaneri last February. The jury returned a not guilty verdict on a charge of second-degree murder.

According to police, Lee was driving her ex-girlfriend’s car and talking with her on the phone when they got into an argument. Investigators say Lee got so angry during the conversation that at some point, she told her friend that she was going to crash the vehicle.

Investigators say Lee intentionally sped up to approximately 60 MPH and drove through a red light at the intersection of Warren and Wayne roads in Westland, before crashing into Nwaneri’s vehicle. Nwaneri, a 55-year-old mother of four, was headed to her nursing job.

Both Lee and Nwaneri, who was alert when the firefighters arrived, were rushed to the hospital. Lee was released after being treated, while Nwaneri later died.

After being released, Lee apparently went back to her apartment, where the argument with her ex-girlfriend continued. According to reports, Lee chased after the woman with a Samurai sword when she tried to flee the apartment. Police say Lee hit two people with the sword, but they were not harmed.

Officers arrived at Lee’s apartment to arrest her on three counts of felonious assault and vandalism for the domestic violence incident before receiving word that Nwaneri had died.